title: Psychosocial impact of the summer 2007 floods in England.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The summer of 2007 was the wettest in the UK since records began in 1914 and resulted in severe flooding in several regions. We carried out a health impact assessment using population-based surveys to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for the psychosocial consequences of this flooding in the United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveys were conducted in two regions using postal, online, telephone questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Exposure variables included the presence of flood water in the home, evacuation and disruption to essential services (incident management variables), perceived impact of the floods on finances, house values and perceived health concerns. Validated tools were used to assess psychosocial outcome (mental health symptoms): psychological distress (GHQ-12), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9) and probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD checklist-shortform). Multivariable logistic regression was used to describe the association between water level in the home, psychological exposure variables and incident management variables, and each mental health symptom, adjusted for age, sex, presence of an existing medical condition, employment status, area and data collection method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of all mental health symptoms was two to five-fold higher among individuals affected by flood water in the home. People who perceived negative impact on finances were more likely to report psychological distress (OR 2.5, 1.8-3.4), probable anxiety (OR 1.8, 1.3-2.7) probable depression (OR 2.0, 1.3-2.9) and probable PTSD (OR 3.2, 2.0-5.2). Disruption to essential services increased adverse psychological outcomes by two to three-fold. Evacuation was associated with some increase in psychological distress but not significantly for the other three measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The psychosocial and mental health impact of flooding is a growing public health concern and improved strategies for minimising disruption to essential services and financial worries need to be built in to emergency preparedness and response systems. Public Health Agencies should address the underlying predictors of adverse psychosocial and mental health when providing information and advice to people who are or are likely to be affected by flooding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: Shantini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paranjothy
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallacher
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amlôt
authors.forename: G James
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Page
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baxter
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wight
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kirrage
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McNaught
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D057189:Checklist; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D055868:Floods; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult